Fighting Bacteria With The Right Acne Treatment

Acne is a skin disease usually caused by bacteria breeding in the pores of the skin and the skin becoming inflamed. There are a number of different reasons that an outbreak of acne nay occur. If the body has a week immune system it will become allergic to the bacteria. The pores get blocked as blood cells come to try to fight the bacteria. The build up of oil secretions in pores make a breeding ground for more bacteria and spots on the skin will then form.

Many people may start to panic at the appearance of acne caused by bacteria. The red bumps tend to resemble small boils on the skin. The boils are filled with a puss which is the body's attempt to fight the bacteria. There are few things that can be done to treat this acne condition caused by bacteria.

Orally taking medication such as; tetracycline, minocyclne and doxycycline will treat the condition. These are all antibiotics that are used to treat the bacteria that have caused the acne. Topical bactericides or antibiotics such as erythromycin or Benzoyl peroxide can also assist in the treatment of this condition. The "P. acnes" as the bacteria are generally known as, does eventually become resistant to the antibiotics. However, the oxidizer, Benzoyl peroxide does not seem to become resistant. The acne generally will come back temporarily and short cures should be topical.

You can gently exfoliate the skin and this should assist the process, this can be done simply by using a liquid scrub or cloth or by using chemicals designed for this purpose. Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are chemical exfoliating substances, these both cause the top layer of skin to peel and this means dead skin does not build up.

Salicylic acid can be bought as an acne treatment over the counter and this will get rid of dead skin and soften the skin. Face wash products often include this ingredient. Many people use sulfur, which can also be bought over the counter and works well. Glycolic acid is usually found in anti-aging products as well as acne medications.

There are natural acne treatment: fighting bacteria, that are recommended by natural health practitioners. Tea tree oil is often used and has gained popularity; this kills bacteria and reduces inflammation. Tea tree works like Benzoyl peroxide but causes less irritation to the skin, this product can be found in health food stores and in chemists.

Acupuncture is often used to treat hormonal imbalances in the body, which can help acne. Acupuncturists usually recommend other lifestyle changes in conjunction with treatment such as cutting back on dairy products and a healthier dieter.

Another natural therapy is light therapy; this is used to fight off bacteria and many use this method. It is believed that the acne bacteria are insensitive to the light in the blue wavelength of the spectrum. This therapy involves blue light being shone onto the patient for 15 minutes, twice a week for about four weeks. This is a fairly expensive treatment at about $150 for each session. Not all patients have had satisfactory results but some have noticed a reduction in acne. The light wavelengths are completely safe and therefore there are no side effects to this treatment.

Some believe acne can be exacerbated by certain foods and poor hygiene. There is actually no scientific research that links acne to diet. Good diet though will improve damaged tissues assisting skin repair.

Good personal hygiene will really help in any acne treatment. Using good make-up that will not clog pores assists in reducing the spread of bacteria and worsening the condition.

If you are fighting the acne bacteria all the above mentioned treatments and methods should assist. Clearer skin will occur once the bacteria are completely wiped out. Good hygiene, healthy diet and lifestyle will also reduce acne inflammation. Finding the right acne treatment for you might mean trying a few different things but it will be worth it for clearer, softer and healthier skin. Get advice from your doctor if your acne case is severe.